Compare towns
Saugus vs Windham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Saugus | Windham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
16,038Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Windham School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Windham High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.8 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.